Still trying

Mike N

Mike N

New Member
Build Thread
Apr 8, 2023
11
4
Green Bay, WI
Hello everyone,

I converted my tank to a low tech planted tank last October. I’m still struggling with the plants and hoping to find some help.
it looks good from a little distance.


IMG_0794.jpeg

Java Fern and Water Sprite seem to be doing okay, a bit of algae on the ferns. The other plants need help.

IMG_0796.jpeg IMG_0795.jpeg
But looking closer you can see my Anubius is struggling and my stems (Moneywort I believe)are loosing lower leaves.
Any suggestions very much appreciated.
Thanks, Mike

Tank:
100 gal
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
Ph 7
lighting is a 48” Finnex Planted Plus ALC
Filtration is 2 Eheim 2217 and a Fluval 407. One of the Eheim returns through a Aqua 2000 U/V.
I do 40% water changes weekly and add Easy Green ferts per the instructions. I’ve also been adding Seachem Flourish Potassium twice a week.
 
Hello, thanks for posting and hopefully the pros here will get you headed in the right direction.

I would like to ask a few additional questions just to get a better picture. What’s the GH of the tank and KH would be helpful also? How many pumps of Easy Green are you using each week?
 
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Hi Mike,

Please tell us what your substrate is. I assume you are not adding CO2. Is your water from tap or do you use RO?
 
Thank you both for the replies!

I haven’t checked Gh or Kh. Ill have to pick up a test kit for that. I use 10 pumps of Easy Green once a week after a water change.
Substrate is gravel but I have added root tabs from Aquarium Co-Op. I also add root tabs under new plants. No I don’t use Co2. Trying to keep things as simple as possible. I use tap water and use Prime for water changes.

Thanks, Mike
 
Thank you for the reply. To be clear, I’m pretty new to planted tanks but based on the dose information I’m thinking you are pretty low. Here’s a chart of dosing information provided by Easy Green. Screenshot_20210510-144137_Original.png Your tap water may have additional nutrients which might be worth researching so a more tailored dose could be used. Also, Easy Green uses EDTA chelated Iron which is most effective at lower pH. Yours being at 7, you may need to compensate a wee bit more.

This is the first change I would make and see how things evolve over the next 3 or 4 weeks.
 
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I would also recommend that you go on the Internet and get a breakdown of what your tap water has in it. Most water utilities publish a report showing that.

I also think most of your plant are not going to really benefit from the root tabs. They will simply be feeding algae as it seeps out of your substrate.

When you're doing water changes, are you syphoning the substrate also? I suspect your tank has dissolved organics that may be adding to your algae growth.
 
I agree with @Art I personally am not a fan of root tabs. They seem to over complicate things when not used properly. I think they are a bit over sold but many use them with great success. I just don’t see your plant selection warrants them.
 
Thank you Art and Unexpected.

I will search for my water chemistry inline and try increasing ferts. How much would you suggest upping the Easy Green?
For water changes I used to vacuum all gravel in my fish only tanks. When I switched to a planted tank I started just vacuuming in open areas around the plants but not too deep.
 
Thanks Unexpected. I will do that. Sounds like this fertilizer does not have the amount of nutrients that it should have. is there a better fertilizer you would recommend or should I just stay with this one for now and increase the amount like you said?

Art,
i found my water report. Im not sure what I should be looking for. Any recommendations?
 
I would point you to the more tried and true fertilizers that people have had good success with. Eventually, you will graduate to rolling your own but for now I would recommend something like APT from 2hr Aquarist, Tropica or Aqua Design Amano. There are others.

In the water report, look for:
  • Do they use chlorine or chloramines?
  • pH
  • GH
  • KH
  • NO3
  • PO4
  • K
  • Fe
  • Ca
  • Mg
  • TDS
 
Check out this link: Local Water Quality | Green Bay Rackers Homebrew Club

It's bit dated but does break out what is needed. A pro tip when looking up tap water reports is to look for local brewing clubs. They usually will post the detailed report you need. This is a bit dated but can be a starting point for you.

Your water appears to be moderately hard but I don't see any of the above that would cause much concern with fertilizers. I think a good complete fertilizer would work better for you following a low-light type regimen.
 
I do not think its your fertilizer dosing causing this. You have mostly water coloumn feeders. With a few stems thrown in. Do as said above and switch out your substrate for something such as Fluval Stratum. Even though the plants get most of their nutrients from the water they will certianly benifit from getting root fed. It also takes the error out of dosing every day, for example too much, not enough, or forgetting.
I would suspect that Finnex Planted Plus light as the culprit. Its very mediocre at best.
 
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Mike N said:
Thanks Unexpected. I will do that. Sounds like this fertilizer does not have the amount of nutrients that it should have. is there a better fertilizer you would recommend or should I just stay with this one for now and increase the amount like you said?

Art,
i found my water report. Im not sure what I should be looking for. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
I would go with @Art suggestions and I would add Nilocg Thrive to the list. There’s not one fertilizer that’s better, but rather better formulated. And some of these better formulated use a combo chelate which includes DPTA Iron for higher pH water.
 
Last edited:
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BigWave said:
I do not think its your fertilizer dosing causing this. You have mostly water coloumn feeders. With a few stems thrown in. Do as said above and switch out your substrate for something such as Fluval Stratum. Even though the plants get most of their nutrients from the water they will certianly benifit from getting root fed. It also takes the error out of dosing every day, for example too much, not enough, or forgetting.
I would suspect that Finnex Planted Plus light as the culprit. Its very mediocre at best.
Click to expand...
I agree on the light as well, but is 3ppm NO3, .162ppm PO4, 2.01ppm K and .25ppm Fe weekly with a 40% water change enough?
 
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Thanks everyone,
Art I would have never thought to look there for a water report.
i
I picked up a GH/KH test kit. KH is 5 dgh and GH is 4 dgh.
My wife reminded me we do use a home water softener.
 
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@Mike N go enjoy your birthday, man!

My suspicion is 1) the fertilizer and cleaning up the substrate, and 2) the lights (they are underpowered). However, I have seen very low light, low tech tanks that are growing well with them provided low-light plants are used.

Tomorrow or when it's not your birthday, any chance of getting a closer look at the algae on the leaves?
 
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